Ethiopia: Mandatory One-Year Training for University Students to Address Teacher Shortages

Ethiopia, 14 November 2025 — Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education has announced that a new regulation requiring university students to undergo a full year of teaching practice after completing their third academic year will take effect starting from the 2026/2027 academic year.

Education Minister Professor Berhanu Nega told the Federal Parliament that the country’s shortage of teachers is largely due to weak incentives within the profession, acknowledging that low salaries have discouraged many from pursuing careers in education.

He noted that some educational institutions, such as Kotebe Metropolitan University — which specializes in teacher education — have expanded their academic programs at the expense of their core mandate of producing qualified teachers.